A storming finish by Waterford saw last night’s visitors to sunny Páirc Uí Rinn eventually overcome a stubborn challenge by 14-man Cork in this Munster MHC semi-final and truth be told, Cork can have no complaints. It went to extra-time, and in fairness to Cork they played most of those 20 minutes a man short (wing-back Alan O’Callaghan sent off for a second bookable offence) and yet were still in with a shout of winning the game with just two minutes to play. Had Waterford been denied however, it would have been an injustice. They were the better side, had several of the most consummate hurlers on view. Centre-back Austin Gleeson was simply magnificent, corner-forward Patrick Curran was sublime, and these were aided and abetted by a host of strong performers from front to back, sub Darren Foran especially prominent. Waterford now go on to meet Limerick in the Munster final on July 14th, and deservedly so.

It all began so promisingly for Cork, a goal within 30 seconds of the start, corner-forward Michael Cahalane slipping inside the Waterford defence and giving Gavin Power no chance from close range. Points from Pa O’Callaghan (3), Richard Cahalane, Michael Cahalane again, captain Cathal McCormack and Anthony Spillane, in reply to just a single point for Waterford (Patrick Curran, 11m), had the home side well ahead in the 18th minute, 1-7 to 0-1. But the powerful Waterford inside duo of Curran and Stephen Bennett were already beginning to threaten. Corner-forward Conor Gleeson had three bad wides, as had the normally lethal Bennett, but Waterford did manage three points before the break, Patrick Curran with two, Colin Roche with the third. Crucial points they were too, and they left Waterford trailing by a manageable six points, 1-7 to 0-4. Better was to follow for the Decies, however, much better.

An electric restart for Waterford, for centre-forward Roche particularly, saw this game turned on its head; 2-1 within three minutes, a goal each from Roche and the powerful Stephen Bennett, Roche also with the point, and now Cork were in trouble, trailing 2-5 to 1-7. The middle third was where Waterford were winning this battle, Cork struggling under their own puckouts especially. The inside line of Michael Cahalane, Pa O’Callaghan and Anthony Spillane looked threatening but suffered from a poor supply of ball, and poor ball when it was supplied. Entering the end of the third quarter it was Waterford very much on the ascendancy but still only a goal ahead, 2-10 to 1-10, Patrick Curran doing the needful for them time and again. A few shrewd switches however and Cork were back in the game, and with Mark O’Connor, O’Callaghan and Spillane notching the points, managed to tie it up in normal time, 1-15 to 2-12.

Two minutes into added time came a critical moment, the second yellow for the unfortunate O’Callaghan. Cork battled on, actually led at the break (1-18 to 2-14), but the extra man and Waterford’s undoubted ability eventually told and in those final 10 minutes Cork were outscored 1-5 to 0-2, sub Darren Foran with the killer goal. Credit to Cork for their courage but the underage drought continues; kudos to Waterford, a continuation of a great underage season, Munster and All-Ireland colleges A and B titles already in the bag. They’ll prove a handful for Limerick.

Limerick will face the Deise in the final after their extra-time win over Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn tonight. Waterford will look to a superb performance in the second period of extra-time which included 1-2 from DJ Foran. Patrick Curran hit a dozen points for the visitors over the course of the epic game on Leeside but Cork will reflect on a game that got away from them, having led by 1-6 after 20 minutes or so. Ultimately, the sides were deadlocked at 1-16 to Waterford’s 2-12 after the hour thanks to Curran, before they upped their game and booked a spot in the decider.

There is no name on the Munster Minor Hurling Cup. The cup itself was presented by T.W.A. Shannon Airport in 1946.

All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship

In the Minor Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Tipperary are second in the charts with 19 titles behind Kilkenny’s 20 titles. Cork have won 18 titles, Limerick have 3 titles (1940, 1958, 1984), Waterford have won 2 titles (1929, 1948) while Clare’s only title to date came in 1997.

Of the last 13 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Finals played, the Irish Press Cup has only returned to Munster on 4 occasions – Cork (2001) and Tipperary (2006, 2007 and 2012). Of the other 9 titles since 1999, Galway have 5 and Kilkenny have captured 4.